A jury in San Diego Superior Court found that Mesa Community College retaliated against former basketball coach when it terminated her position for speaking out against inequities in women’s athletics, in violation of Title IX. Lorri Sulpizio’s complaints had triggered an investigation by the Office for Civil Rights, which lead to an agreement by the college to remedy disparities in support and resources between men’s and women’s teams.

Lorri Sulpizio, former coach of the women’s basketball team at San Diego Mesa College, has won a favorable verdict from a California State Court jury from a lawsuit she filed in July 2008 against the San Diego Community College District. The jury awarded $28,000 — the equivalent of one year’s salary — in damages, finding that the district had retaliated against Sulpizio when she complained that Mesa engaged in gender inequities in violation of Title IX, a federal statute that prohibits discrimination based on sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance in the United States. Sulpizio, who claimed she was fired by the district after she complained, was represented by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Leslie Levy of Boxer & Gerson LLP, and Mattheus E. Stephens of Stock Stephens LLP. “This is a victory for the student-athletes who work so hard to succeed on the court and in the classrooms,” said Sulpizio. “They deserve nothing less than fair and equal treatment. I remain committed to Title IX and ending gender discrimination in sports, and this verdict inspires me to continue working for equality.”

The National Center for Lesbian Rights and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, members of the United ENDA Coalition, are hosting phone banks here in DC to help pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act! If ENDA passes it would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, making it illegal to discriminate against people for being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

Everyone should be judged on the basis of their work and not who they are. Come phone bank for equality and help pass ENDA! These are easy and fun calls to LGBT people and LGBT supportive voters that will make the difference in passing ENDA this year. ENDA NOW, NO MORE DELAYS! Food will be provided.

What: Phone bank to pass ENDA

Who: Equality minded people like you, your friends, and family!

When: 6pm-9pm, Every Tuesday & Thursday night from now until December 22nd (Dec. 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th, and 22nd)

In light of continuing delays in the House of Representatives, we must state clearly and unequivocally: Passing basic job protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people must happen now. At a time when our government is deeply focused on the critical issue of employment, it is inexcusable to delay action on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Each and every job lost to prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity needlessly compounds the unemployment challenges facing our nation. We call on Congress for the immediate passage of ENDA.

For decades now, we have called upon Congress to pass legislation to address the basic right of LGBT people to work free from discrimination at our jobs, and now Congress tells us we must wait another year. In 29 states, it remains legal to fire people based on sexual orientation and in 38 states, discrimination based on gender identity remains legal. In failing to take swift action to pass ENDA, our government allows unfettered bigotry to go unchecked, leading to the loss of jobs, fear in the workplace, economic instability, and personal hardship, while allowing employers to lose competent experienced workers. ENDA is urgently needed by our communities.

The majority of Americans consistently state their support for employment protections and voters have affirmed similar state and local measures. There is absolutely no reason for Congress to continue to delay this non-controversial bill or drop LGBT issues to the bottom of their agenda. We will not be denied basic rights any longer. Nothing is more important than protecting people’s jobs so ENDA must pass now. Further delays are absolutely unacceptable.